Mary Manners, Duchess of Rutland

Mary Isabella Manners, Duchess of Rutland, born Lady Mary Somerset (1 August 17562 September 1831) was a British politician and society hostess. Life Rutland was born in 1756. Her mother was the heiress Elizabeth Berkeley and her father was Charles Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort. Her father died in 1756 so her elder brother Henry Somerset became the 5th Duke of Beaufort. He was about twelve at the time. On 26 December 1775, she married Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland. She was known for her beauty and as a society host. The writer Nathaniel Wraxall thought her the most beautiful woman in England. Sir Joshua Reynolds painted her portrait four times. Charles and Mary had six children, two daughters and four sons. Her daughters were Lady Elizabeth Isabella Manners and Lady Katherine Mary Manners. The former married Richard Norman and the latter married Cecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron Forester in 1780. One of their sons, Lord William Robert Albanac Manners died when he was about ten in 1783. The other three were John Henry Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland (1778–1857), General Lord Charles Henry Somerset Manners (24 October 178025 May 1855) and Major-General Lord Robert William Manners (14 December 178115 November 1835)